PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Chief Secretary to report the officials who were involved in the process of granting permissions to Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival held at Vagator from December 28 to 30, 2022. The Chief Secretary has also been mandated to file a final report in the matter within a fortnight after he submitted a preliminary report.
The State government had sought four weeks to submit report on noise pollution during the three-day Sunburn EDM. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had earlier told the court that criminal complaints had already been filed against violators for crossing the sound threshold of 55dB (A). The High Court had taken cognisance of noise levels at Sunburn festival, which were higher than permissible limits during the three days. A detailed report was sought from the Chief Secretary over the issue.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Mahesh S Sonak and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes has now directed the Chief Secretary to look into the process that was followed in granting permission on the first day of Sunburn EDM based upon the application that was inwarded only on the penultimate day. The Court has also asked the Chief Secretary to look into the notification dated January 5, 2022, issued by the Department of Environment and Climate Change regarding action plan in the context of Noise Pollution Rules. The Court also asked the petitioner Rajesh Sinary, Sunburn organisers and the Deputy Collector, who had issued the permission dated December 28, 2022, under the Noise Pollution Rules to file affidavits giving full details about the application and how the same was processed.
The High Court will further hear the matter on March 15.
